Jazz Ensembles

Jazz Ensembles

Jazz thrives at Utah State, with hundreds of students participating every year in
jazz activities of one kind or another, and a faculty of world-class jazz musicians
who actively perform and are committed to educational excellence as well. Please visit
the Jazz Area page for additional information about Jazz at USU.

In June of 2014, Downbeat Magazine honored the USU Jazz Orchestra with its Outstanding
Performance by a Large Jazz Ensemble award in the annual Student Music Awards issue.

Audition info: Auditions for the entire year are held the first week of school in the fall, but
it is possible to challenge current members for seats in the band between semesters.
The audition is based on ability to sightread big band music, and those interested
in soloing will be asked to improvise.

Overview: Downbeat Award-winning ensemble USU Jazz Orchestra is the premier jazz ensemble at
Utah State University. It is made up of five saxophones (alto, tenor, and baritone),
five trumpets, four trombones, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, and perform selections
from classic and contemporary jazz, rock and pop music. The Jazz Orchestra performs
in concert four times a year at USU, in venues such as the Caine Performance Hall,
Morgan Theatre and Kent Concert Hall, and also puts on an annual three-night swing
dance event called Jazz Night at the Sky Club, in addition to occasional performances
at festivals and high schools. This ensemble has recorded two CDs in recent years,
including the critically acclaimed Europa, hailed as “one of the most exciting jazz albums I’ve heard in years” (Dan Cohen), and “recorded live with pizazz and gutsy bravado” (Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz). The Jazz Orchestra rehearses Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays, from 12:30 – 1:20 PM.

Audition info:Auditions for the entire year are held the first week of school in the fall, but it
is possible to challenge current members for seats in the band between semesters.
The audition is based on ability to sightread big band music, and those interested
in soloing will be asked to improvise.

Overview: The USU Jazz Ensemble meets three times a week at 2:00. It is made up of five saxophones
(alto, tenor, and baritone), four trumpets, four trombones, piano, guitar, bass, and
drums, and performs a variety of big band and contemporary jazz music. Jazz Ensemble
plays four times a year at USU, in addition to occasional performances at festivals
and high schools.